Jen's Blog

Oh John Sandford, you got me again.  The first few pages made me think Lucas Davenport was somehow reverting to his old self. What happened to Weather?  Did quitting his job with the Minnesota Bureau send him off the rails?  I vowed to stop reading if he was reverting to his pre-Weather days (even though I knew that wouldn't be true).  Thankfully Lucas was just on a new job!  Davenport is a new U.S. Marshal, free of all the things he hated about his last job. Lucas takes on an old case to track down a killer who likes to steal a lot of money and kill people in the process.  No one has ever been able to track down the criminal called Poole, but Davenport is determined he is going to be the one.  There is a lot of action, excitement and shooting in this book.  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  The 400 pages went by super fast, and it left me wanting more. Well done! If you haven't read this series, start today.  I am not kidding....

Spring has sprung, and it's going to be a little harder to read for the next two months, until long summer days come back anyway!  I read two books in the last few weeks, both from Edelweiss, so thanks Edelweiss for the review copies!  Since I didn't give full reviews, I will just do a quick review for both and say I enjoyed them both. I enjoyed My One True Highlander by Suzanne Enoch quite a lot!  It was a fun, sexy story and as we all know I love any book set in Scotland, but it wasn't all that original.  I don't know why, but highlander's often kidnap their brides, although this time the kidnapping was indirect because it was done by Graeme's brothers.  Even though it wasn't super original, I thought the two characters were great together and had an instant chemistry.  I especially loved Marojorie's relationship with the youngest brother, who was so sweet you can't help but love him.  I am looking forward to another in the series!  4/5 star...

The Good Daughter was a reading departure for me, but it proved to me that sometimes it’s a great idea to read something different than you normally do!  Alexandra Burt had me turning pages as fast as I could from the beginning.  I couldn’t wait to find out what was going on with Dahlia and her mother and to know the truth!  Dahlia remembers moving from one place to the next all her life, and finds that she continues to do so as an adult.  Why doesn’t she have a birth certificate?  Not it seems like her mother is having a breakdown as well and Dahlia doesn’t know why.  She does know that it’s probably related to her unorthodox upbringing.  Usually I don’t like stories that go back and forth in character and time, but this time it works.  I almost found that Dahlia’s mothers story was more intriguing and I couldn’t wait until the story switched back to her!  Recommended…4/5 on GoodReads Thanks to Net Galley for the Advanced R...

Who doesn't love Sophie Kinsella?  Well, I am sure some people are not a fan, but I know she is loved far and wide.  Sophie writes a fun, fast paced story that catches your interest right away and keeps you reading!  Her style of writing is so engaging I often find myself looking up at the clock and wondering how time has gone so fast! My (not so) Perfect Life wasn't any different.  It was light, fun, easy to read, entertaining and hilarious.  There was a little bit of romance as well...it hit all the right notes for me. Katie is the main character, she has always wanted to live in London and have a fabulous life and job.  The reality is that London is expensive and her job isn't that great, but she is optimistic and portrays her life the way she sees it ending up to everyone around her, and her Instagram followers. When Katie is fired from her dream job she is forced to move home and reevaluate her life a little.  She is not about to give up h...

Another day...another cowboy book. Carolyn Brown's new series Lucky Cowboys starts off with Talk Cowboy to Me .  This one was good enough I will be looking for book number two.  I don't see an entry for book number 2 on Goodreads yet, so I put Carolyn Brown on my author's to watch list. This book features two mismatched families who are clearly destined to become one big family.  There are not many surprises in romance novels so the reader know almost from the beginning what is going to happen.  (Honestly, that's one of the reasons I love the romance genre so much!)  The journey the characters take to get there is a somewhat unique one however. This one features Adele O'Donnell and her two lovely daughters.  They move onto the Double Deuce Ranch after Adele's divorce and after her ex-husband takes away the ranch she had been living on with her girls. Then there is Remington Luckadeau, who is well known for his lady friends and bachelor lifestyle. ...

Holding on Tighter is another book I read in February and just now am reviewing! Any fan of Erotic Romance knows the name Shayla Black.  This is the 12th book in her Wicked Lovers series, and it's a good solid addition. The main characters include Jolie Quinn, who is a woman in charge.  She has big goals and knows what she needs to do to get them accomplished.  Heath Powell is recovering from personal tragedy and wants to stay clear of any attachment.  However Jolie and her company become a target and she suddenly needs to rely on someone else to help protect the things she loves. The sparks between the two characters are evident, but they both are fighting not only their desires but also their true feelings. Watching them sort that out is a lot of sexy fun!  One of the best parts was catching up with past characters of the other books, seeing the big extended family these people have created was truly special. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced readers ...

Thanks NetGalley for the Advanced Reading Copy of this one!  I read it back in January, but am a little behind on my blogging. Spring has been busy this year! This book made me feel all the feels!  It features two sisters Ainsley and Kate, and although it's a romance it could also be called women's fiction because it heavily features the relationship between the two sisters who have never been close.  However, some pretty big life events bring the two sisters together, closer than ever. Kate, who found her husband later in life, tragically loses him at the beginning of the book.  Readers follow her story of getting over the loss of her whirlwind romance and marriage, and then navigate a surprise that she never saw coming.  Watching Kate rebuild her life was addicting, and I had trouble putting the book down. Ainsley's romance is completely the opposite of whirlwind.  She has been waiting for 11 years for her boyfriend to propose.  Instead of pr...

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of this one! Anyone who has checked out my blog so far will notice I have featured Scottish themed romance novels often, and I admit I have a weak spot for them.  I just can't help it, men in kilts, what can I say?  After reading the first book in the series, Wild Wicked Scot , I couldn't wait to read the second book. I wasn't disappointed when I picked up Sinful Scottish Laird.   Although it took me a little longer to fall into this story, when I did I couldn't put it down. Julia London writes a wonderful story that makes any reader (me included) feel like part of the story.  This story features Lady Chatwick, Daisy, and her young son.  They set out to journey to Scotland to escape the many suitors who are after her Daisy's inheritance.  Daisy has to marry within three years of her husband's death or all is lost, and all of England know it. While waiting for the man she thought she would like to marr...

Thanks NetGalley for the Advanced Readers copy! I wasn't too sure about this one the entire time I was reading it, and honestly I am still a little on the fence.  However, I will say it was fresh and new and unlike many other books.  This is how people communicate now...email and text so that was real. After the first few sections I got used to the dialog between the twins and I got more into their story.  In the end I was connecting to the characters and getting to know them, so maybe it just took me awhile to get into the story.  It's been about a week since I finished the story and when I think about it now I feel happy.  The story line was somewhat predictable but again a lot of fun. Overall, give it a try.  It was pretty good and the characters were a lot of fun.  3/5 stars on GoodReads.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this one.   Wild Wicked Scot by Julia London was a great read, and one that I gobbled down in just one day!  There are some books that you just can't put down or read fast enough and this is one of them!  I am beyond excited that this is the first in a new series and I can't wait for book two! Book one features Margot Armstrong, a young and inexperienced English lady and Arran McKenzie, Scottish Clan leader.  The two had an arranged marriage and couldn't be more different in personality. Despite the natural passion that ran between them Margot runs away and returns to England. Three years later she is sent back to Scotland by her father to spy on her husband.  Although, deep down she is convinced that the Arran she was married too couldn't be a traitor she has to find out for sure. In her quest for the truth Margo finds out a lot about Arran, including some things she didn't see as a new bride.  She ...

I didn't realize when I read this one that it was a re-issue.  It was first published as  The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off .  It's also the second book in the series and I hadn't read the first when I found this one.  I enjoyed it enough I will go back and re-read the first two in the series. The only thing I would say about the book that I didn't like, was on occasion it got very wordy.  Overall it was a delightful and fun story. Carlene Lovell is recovering from her husband's shocking affair, with a women she sold some of her expensive lingerie too!  Waiting in the wings is sexy sheriff Jack Landry. This story offers a lot more than just romance though, its really about friendship.  Carlene and her friends and family decide to enter the chili cook-off to get back at Carlene's soon to be ex, and the rest of the men in town.  It's a story about survival and friendship, and these friends have a whole lot of fun!  I love stories like this that in...

I have been enjoying this Carsons of Mustang Creek series.  They are light, fun and entertaining reads - and really who doesn't love a cowboy story? Book two Always a Cowboy features Drake Carson, in charge of the family ranch. He is devoted to the animals and the land.  He is all cowboy, all the time.  His biggest challenge of late is managing the wild horses on his land, the stallion is running off with some of his other horses. Luce Hale is a graduate student intent on studying and saving the wild horse population.  Sparks fly between Luce and Drake right away and the attraction is instant.  They work together to come up with a plan that works for everyone and fall in love in the process. It's a solid story and a lot of fun.  If you are a fan of sexy cowboys and western romances this one is for you! Start with book one - Once a Rancher . 3/5 stars on Goodreads.

Michael Connelly does it again...you cannot go wrong with Harry Bosch! If you haven't read his series yet you should start today...especially if you are considering watching the TV show based on the books. (Pretty well done for the most part) These books are always entertaining and action packed. They capture your interest in the first chapter and they don't let it go. You will not be disappointed with  The Wrong Side of Goodbye , you will want to stay up all night and read this one from start to finish! Despite being "retired" from the LAPD Harry Bosch cannot let police work go. It's in his blood and he feels the need to continue it even during his retirement. Harry is working at a smaller police department on reserve, sans pay, in this book and he becomes instrumental in a rape case that has been upsetting life in the small town. He also has renewed his police license and is involved in finding an heir for a rich billionaire that dies under suspicious circum...

What a busy month!  I feel like I have hardly had time to read at all! However, I did finish The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries, the latest in her Sinful Suitors Series and I wasn't disappointed! Miss Delia Trevor is trying to solve the mystery of her brother's death in this book.  He was cheated at cards and lost everything, so Delia disguises herself as a young man gambling his way across London. In her investigating she meets Warren, the Marquess of Knightford. He instantly recognizes her as the young lady he had met earlier. She intrigues him and he decides to figure out her secrets while keeping his own. Ultimately the two discover each others secrets and there is a happily ever after but they have to learn to trust each other and themselves before they get there! Rated 4/5 on Goodreads, thanks Netgalley for the sneak peek of this one!  This one was a satisfying read (although it started out a bit slowly) and had everything I love in a regency romance...

I wasn't going to review this one on my blog because, frankly, I didn't like it.  But then I decided that my blog shouldn't just be about books I like, it should be honest reviews about all books good and bad. The premise of the book was promising, the main character Sukie is rebuilding her life after her husband leaves her for another women.  A common theme with women's fiction books.  Sukie learns to rely on her friends, and makes new friends while she discovers who she is when she is alone.  I love this type of story line and it was probably the best part of the book, but it was hard to read, rushed and all over the place. The characters, to me, just didn't seem real and I had trouble connecting to them.  To me this is the cornerstone of a women't fiction novel and without it I just couldn't get into the book.  This one had a lot of promise but didn't deliver. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for this honest review...

This was a delightful book and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It had everything I like in Women's Fiction, strong female friendship, women going through big changes in their lives and reflecting on their choices, clear resolutions to the story lines (mostly happy!) and a bit of romance.  It had humor as well, the neighborhoods email list was so funny and their was humor with the characters as well. This women's fiction book has a fun twist, it also contains a mystery!  Each of the women in the book have a secret, but we know most of the secrets as they unfold.  However the new neighbor Tess has a secret that even the readers don't know about, and it's a dark secret.  So there is intriguing in this story as well as the women't fictions themes.  This made the book so interesting and different than anything I have read in awhile!  It was fresh and fun!  Highly recommended. 4/5 Stars on Goodreads!

John Sandford is a personal favorite, but also one I recommend to a large number of library patrons. His stories are entertaining, fun to read and don't drag. Escape Clause is a great addition to the Virgil Flower's Series and will keep readers on their toes during the quick and entertaining read!  I love that Sandford is always coming up with new locations for his books, and the zoo was a great addition.  The storyline in this one kept me guessing and I love that.   The relationship between Frankie and Virgil in this one also kept the reader interested in what was to come!   If you haven't read Sandford yet start today.  The first one in this series is Dark of the Moon . 5/5 on Goodreads, thanks to NetGalley and Goodreads for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

I am always searching for new authors, and always super happy when I find one!  Diary of an Accidental Wallflower by Jennifer McQuiston is the first one in her Seduction Diaries series.  This book featured a fresh twist on an old idea, and that is always refreshing.  Miss Clare Westmore is searching for a titled husband suited to her station in life when she injures herself and meets Dr. Daniel Merial.  Although the spark between the pair flairs instantly there are many obstacles that the pair need to overcome, including the mystery behind Clare’s past.  Although we have all read the story of the poor governess who marries into money, this story is sort of the opposite and I feel, very well done.  Thankfully the characters figure out early in the story that they want to be together and they figure out a way to make it happen.  I will look forward to the second story in the series.     Rated 4/5 stars on Goodreads

The Promise Kitchen by Peggy Lampman wasn't my favorite book this month.  It was a solid story, and I enjoyed the colorful characters Shelby and Mallory.  I always enjoy books that feature food and chefs, so I was excited for this one.  To me the book got off to such a slow start it was hard to stick in there and get to the meat of the story. Ultimately this is a story about friendship, the friendship that Shelby and Mallory develop during the story.  The two are very different but they quickly find common group and a friendship forms. I have never read a story by Peggy Lampman before, but even though this wasn't my favorite I will give her another try.  I think fans of Dorthea Benton Frank will enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy. 2/5 on Goodreads for me.

RaeAnne is still a pretty new author for me, but I have read all of the books in this series now.  I love the town of Haven Point, and I love the characters who live in that town.  Who wouldn't want to live in a town where everyone is friendly, supportive and helpful. This story features Andrea Montgomery who moved to Haven Point after losing her husband and being abused by his former partner.  Haven Point becomes a place of healing for her and her two children.  The children are adorable and you want to hug them everytime you read about them! Also in this story is Sheriff Marshall Bailey, who is overcoming some hardships himself after losing both his brother and his father on the job.  Andi and Marshall start to heal together and ultimately let their hearts lead the way instead of their fears. Thanks to Edelweiss for the Advanced Readers Copy!  4/5 stars on Goodreads.